Digest

Police are increasing patrols at city shopping centers to prevent crime during the holiday season, according to the Boca Raton Police Department.

Bicycle patrols, tactical units and high visibility marked cars will be cruising areas such as the Town Center Mall. Officers also will be at heavy traffic areas during peak shopping times to minimize congestion.

As part of an effort to reduce auto burglaries, officers will be passing out information in shopping center parking lots. A few prevention tips:

Always keep cars locked, even while pumping gas or when parked in the driveway.

Do not leave valuables inside.

If you have to leave something in a car, put it in the trunk.

Use car alarms and other deterrent devices.

Boca Raton

Delray man donates jazz collection to FAU

Florida Atlantic University has received the largest donation of jazz music in its history.

The collection will be housed in the music department and will be available for student and faculty use. It features 6,750 records, 2,650 CDs, 1,550 audiotapes, 500 books, 741 rare books, an extensive collection of sheet music, and stereo and storage equipment, according to the university.

There are 500 rare albums dating from the 1920s, more than 2,000 albums dating from the 1930s and more than 3,000 from the 1940s.

"It is an amazing collection of music that you can't find anymore," said Tim Walters, director of jazz studies and associate professor of music at FAU.

Palm Beach Gardens

Mite that can ruin palms discovered in the county

A destructive mite that can ruin palm trees has been found in Palm Beach County, state agriculture officials said Wednesday.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said one red palm mite was found on a coconut palm this week. It's the first ever confirmed report of the pest in the United States, Bronson said.

Red palm mites have become a prominent pest throughout the Caribbean, and officials have expected it to arrive in this country. It damages the leaves of palm trees, turning them yellow, ruining their value as ornamentals. Eventually, it can kill the tree.

Bronson said officials were conducting a wider survey to see whether the find was isolated or part of a larger problem.

West Palm Beach

Public can share opinions about neutering ordinance

Looking to sound off on the county's proposed mandatory spay-neuter ordinance?

Here's your chance: County Commissioner Bob Kanjian is holding a town hall meeting on the issue Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Clayton E. Hutcheson Agricultural Center, 559 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach.

The county is considering requiring all pet owners except licenses breeders to spay or neuter their dogs and cats. It's an attempt to control rampant pet overpopulation that is forcing county animal-care officers to kill thousands of unwanted animals a year.

The issue is scheduled to go before county commissioners on Jan. 15, 2008.

I-95 Update

The Florida Department of Transportation reports the following on Interstate 95: Two lanes northbound from 10th Avenue North to Southern Boulevard will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through tomorrow morning. Two lanes in each direction from Southern Boulevard to north of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard will be closed from 9 p.m .to 5 a.m. through tomorrow morning.

Two lanes in each direction from north of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard to north of Blue Heron Boulevard will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through tomorrow morning.